Letters to the editor for April 2, 2014: Olympics try for San Diego; Dumanis campaign; vaccinations; S.D. Opera; senators in trouble; STEM; Filner pension; genome research

Drop the idea of hosting Olympics

Regarding “Scaled back plans set for centennial party” (March 29), now that we’ve admitted that we’ve totally flubbed the Panama-California Exposition centennial, the city should abandon all efforts to get the Olympics.

There is no way anyone will give us the responsibility of handling something as enormous and important as the Olympics. So let’s disband the San Diego 2024 Olympic Exploratory Committee and stop spending money on this foolish notion. We should not pay for (another!) committee that will accomplish nothing.

Drew Granston

Mira Mesa

Dumanis campaign move ‘abhorrent’

Bonnie Dumanis as an officer of the court and as our district attorney should be ashamed of her campaign attempting to paint Bob Brewer in a negative light for defending the criminally accused; and maybe, just maybe Jennifer Tierney her campaign manager needs the Constitution (especially the part called the Sixth Amendment.) before she berates a lawyer for upholding one of the most sacred rights in our Constitution.

It is too often forgotten that men have died for the preservation of this right (among others), which makes the insinuation by Dumanis’ campaign all the more abhorrent. If Bob Brewer made millions defending the accused he did so while assuring the rights guaranteed to us all by our Constitution.

John Adams, on his defense of British soldiers on trial for murder for the Boston Massacre of 1770 once said “... counsel ought to be the very last thing that an accused person should lack in a free country.” Is the Dumanis campaign trying to tell us that certain people should not be defended by Brewer or any attorney for that matter with their statement? It is this type of mentality, held by those in power, that our Constitution was written to protect us from.

So no, Brewer should not return the campaign donation as it was lawfully made by someone who has the right to make a contribution.

Hector J. Tamayo

Criminal Defense Attorney

Co-founder, past president, Justicia Criminal Defense Attorneys

Chula Vista

Victims first, then political candidate

A letter written March 31 criticizes the re-election campaign of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis for pointing out the acceptance by her opponent of a contribution from a felon, whom the opponent had represented. What the letter writer fails to mention is the victims of the massive fraud in which the felon was involved are still owed thousands in restitution. That was the salient point of the U-T article, “$700 given to Dumanis opponent questioned” (March 18).

When, and if, those victims are repaid, then the thief can legitimately use her generosity in supporting her candidate.

Charles L. Patrick

Ret. Superior Court judge

La Jolla

Vaccine exemptions must be limited

Regarding “Anti-vaccine movement takes harsh toll” (Editorial, March 31), recent research reports indicate that autism is caused by abnormal brain development during pregnancy. Hopefully, this research will lead to practical means to prevent and treat autism.

This evidence should also discredit the anti-vaccine movement. It clearly demonstrates that vaccination cannot cause autism. The public health benefits are so compelling, that vaccine exemptions need to be severely restricted. Even religious belief exemptions should be eliminated, because too many parents claim these out of fearful ignorance.